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Reports: Kushner security clearance downgraded

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner waves as he arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 24, 2017

SOURCE: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Reports: Kushner security clearance downgraded

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Updated: 3:18 PM CST Feb 27, 2018

Interim security clearances for White House aides, including Jared Kushner, were downgraded last week after chief of staff John Kelly stipulated new changes to how officials access the nation's secrets, according to sources, CNN and Reuters reported.

Aides who previously operated on "top secret" interim clearances saw their access changed to "secret," a classification for less sensitive material.

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In a Feb. 16 memo, Kelly stated that White House officials who have been operating on interim clearances since last June would have their temporary clearances discontinued.

That included Kushner, the president's son-in-law and senior adviser. Asked on Friday whether he would grant Kushner an exemption from the new mandate, Trump said it would be Kelly's decision.

The White House has refused to detail the status of Kushner's clearance.

Politico first reported the security clearance downgrade.

"He is a valued member of the team and will continue to do the important work he has been doing since he started in the administration," press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Tuesday.

After the memo's release, White House officials worked to identify a way for Kushner to continue working on his portfolio of issues — including on the Middle East and China — that would avoid forcing Trump to personally intervene.